#LGBTISolidaritySunday

Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM) in collaboration with the Centre for Christian Spirituality, Good Hope Metropolitan Community Church, the Groote Kerk, and Central Methodist Mission is holding a service of Lament and Hope on Sunday, 27 November 2016 at 18:00. This service is held in grievance to the Dutch Reformed Church’s decision to recall their 2015 decision, that all people were celebrated as equal, during an extraordinary General Synod in November 2016.

The decision of the General Synod in 2015 reconfirmed the equivalence of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, and committed itself to the enforcement of the dignity of all people. It also declared that hetero- and homosexual people who have a relationship with the Lord and live in obedience of faith, are allowed to participate in all the privileges of the church as covenant community.

In November this year, the Synod shocked the South African LGBTI community when it decided to approach the case of same-sex relationships with “great caution”. It also reconfirmed that marriage was established, by God, as a holy and lifelong bond between one man and one woman, and that any sexual deeds outside of such a formal marital relationship does not agree with Christian guidelines.

Above mentioned partners invite you to participate in a service of Lament and Hope on Sunday, 27 November 2016 at 18:00. The service will start at Central Methodist Mission on the corner of Longmarket Street and Burg Street, Green Market Square, and take a short pilgrimage to Groote Kerk at 3 Adderley Street in Cape Town. Refreshments will also be provided.

This initiative aims to bring together parents, family, and friends in solidarity with the LGBTI community, in a sacred space, to voice our pain and hope especially in light of the recent Dutch Reformed Church’s decision to recall their 2015 decision which celebrated all people as equal.